Quezon's sendoff draws a crowd

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct came up a bit larger than trainer Robert Ribaudo expected, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Ribaudo sees “an unbelievable amount of speed” in the field of 10 fillies and mares, and he believes that should only help his New York-bred Quezon’s chances in the six-furlong race.

“I didn’t expect this many horses, but it’s not a disappointment,” Ribaudo said Thursday.

Ribaudo said it’s “99.9 percent” certain Quezon will be retired after this race. The 6-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful is booked to be bred to 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. While Quezon will not achieve her connections’ goal of winning a graded stakes, she has achieved a lot. Quezon is a five-time stakes winner, including a victory against open company in the Garland of Roses last December. She has placed in 3 of the 5 graded events she has attempted. Quezon is 7 for 18 with earnings of $754,200.

When Quezon won the Garland of Roses, she had to lay a bit closer than she prefers due to a slow pace. But the Correction field includes front-running types Nisha, Sounds Delicious, Spice Lady, Summer Reading, Bluegrass Flag, and Rowd E Allie.

“The race sets up great,” said Ribaudo, whose filly will break from post 5 under Joe Rocco Jr.

A lively pace would also benefit Startwithsilver, who has been visually impressive rallying from last in her two most recent starts, including a six-length victory in the Broadway Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 18.

“She’s in good form, obviously,” trainer Linda Rice said. “We’re going from New York-bred stakes to open company. She certainly accomplished a lot in the last couple of months. We thought we’d give her a shot.”

Rice also entered Sounds Delicious, who has won 4 of her 5 starts, but who would be running back on just 13 days’ rest.

Al Stall Jr. shipped in My Miss Chiff from Louisiana, while Todd Pletcher sent up Spice Lady from South Florida.

KEY CONTENDERS

Quezon, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 85-92-97

◗ Since getting blinkers last fall, she has run four solid races, including two straight stakes victories this winter over the main track.

◗ Missed a scheduled start in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie in February due to a ban of New York shippers to Laurel owing to a quarantine situation at Belmont Park.

“She’s trained well since, hasn’t lost a step,” Ribaudo said. “The weather has been very cooperative for the whole month of February.”

Startwithsilver, by Jump Start
Last 3 Beyers: 96-81-75

◗ After nine consecutive turf races, she has responded with two superior efforts when put back on dirt.

◗ Rice noted that Startwithsilver had been given last winter off, which is why she went back to turf for her 2017 campaign.

◗ She is 3 for 3 over Aqueduct’s main track.

My Miss Chiff, by Iron Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-82

◗ Though she was part of the pace when second last out, Stall said he would prefer to see her in a stalking position, as she was winning a pair of Louisiana-bred stakes to close out her 3-year-old campaign last year.

◗ She will be just the second career starter at Aqueduct for Stall, whose other one, Central Banker, finished sixth in the 2014 Carter.

◗ Gets Dylan Davis in the irons.